As part of the interview, I get to ask some of the questions that my Facebook network sent me before the interview:

As part of the phone interview, I asked the congressional co-chairs some questions artists and culture aficionados in my Facebook network wanted me to ask when I appealed to them for ideas. The most pressing question was: do they ever think individual artists, and not only institutions, will ever receive direct funds again?

“I’ve not seen much of a push for any real changes to fund individual projects,” Rep. Platts responded. Rep. Slaughter was more realistic: “Until the funding goes up, we can’t even approach that question.”

If you want to join me on Facebook and send me potential questions when I announce future interviews, feel free to friend me: facebook.com/hragv